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Pathology

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Nasopharyngeal carcinoma is a lymphoepithelioma comprising lymphoid elements admixed with malignant epithelial cells identical to those of a poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma. The epithelial cells, not the lymphoid elements, are considered neoplastic.

Biopsy is necessary to differentiate nasopharyngeal carcinoma from other nasopharyngeal malignancies, such as:

  • lymphoma - including Burkitt's lymphoma
  • sarcoma - rhabdomyosarcoma, sarcomas from fibrous, cartilaginous, or osseous tissues surrounding the nasopharynx
  • adenocarcinoma
  • tumours from salivary tissues - such as adenoid cystic adenocarcinoma

Spread may occur:

  • directly:
    • anteriorly, i.e. nasally
    • inferiorly, i.e. pharyngeal
    • superiorly, i.e. sphenoidal
    • posteriorly, i.e. region of first cervical vertebra
    • laterally, i.e. parotid gland; IX, X, XI, XII cranial nerves
  • lymphatic - to the upper deep cervical lymph nodes
  • haematogenous - to the spinal column, lung and liver

Lymphatic spread tends to occur earliest.


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